Titans' DT Jones fined $5,000

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones has been fined $5,000 by the NFL for unnecessarily entering the fight area during last Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans.

While cornerback Cortland Finnegan and Andre Johnson were in a tussle that began the melee in the Texans bench area, Jones came over to defend Finnegan, and was immediately ejected for what referee Walt Coleman said was throwing a punch. Video of the incident showed only Jones extending his arm, and the defensive tackle insisted that he did not throw a punch.

“I broke a rule, but from my perspective, I don’t think I should have gotten kicked out. I was wrongfully kicked out,” Jones said of the fine. “The ref made his decision, and I’m going to go with it and take responsibility for it. I shouldn’t have gone over there anyway."

Jones said he would speak with agent Mike McCartney and decide whether or not to proceed with an appeal of the fine.

It is not yet known whether Finnegan, Johnson or any other Titans or Texans players were fined in the incident.

No second guessing

Cornerback Nick Harper said he wasn’t calling the coaching staff into question, but rather his fellow players, when he said after Sunday’s loss to Houston that the Titans did not make necessary adjustments.

The Texans’ Matt Schaub shredded Tennessee’s secondary for 357 yards and four touchdowns, and Harper’s postgame comments construed as perhaps critical of the staff raised some eyebrows the following day.

“Let me get one thing clear. I said some things after the game. I was misquoted,” Harper said. “I don’t speak for coaches, so I don’t want nobody ever to let that come out of their mouth again. I don’t speak for coaches. I speak for players.

“For you to say that when I said we didn’t make adjustments, I was meaning players. I don’t speak for coaches, period. I speak for players, players only. I don’t appreciate that quote, and I need that to be retracted or whatever.”

Harper insisted the wasn’t trying to lay the blame elsewhere.

“I’m not a point-the-finger guy. If things ain’t working, they’re just not working. We’ll get it fixed. I don’t speak for coaches, never have, never will,” Harper said.

Out of practice

The Titans were without guard Eugene Amano (illness), tight end Bo Scaife (knee) and linebacker Stanford Keglar (hamstring) in Wednesday’s practice, as well as punter Craig Hentrich, who has already been declared out this week with a calf injury.

Scaife did some running on the side sporting a brace on his injured left knee that he hurt in the opener against Pittsburgh.

The Titans signed punter Reggie Hodges on Wednesday and waived cornerback Cary Williams, as well as signing punter A.J. Trapasso to the practice squad and putting practice squad defensive tackle Mitch King on injured reserve.